(Augusta, GA) – Brunswick, Georgia native Baiesha Johnson, Paine College Lady Lions track and field athlete, qualified for the 2013 NCAA championship in Pueblo, Colorado. This performance earned Johnson a NCAA 2 nd place ranking. Following her participation in the May 23 rd long jump contest finishing 2 nd in the final with a jump of 6.19 meters, she competed in the high jump event on May 26 th , finishing her contest with an attempt at 1.70 meters mark, although her personal record in the high jump is 1.76 meters.

Of course, in her new career as a professional athlete, she faces quite a few challenges, including the personal investment of time, as well as the financial support required. Johnson is set to depart from the United States on June 22, 2013 to compete on the European EAA and EAP circuit in quest of earning a professional spot representing the United States of America in the 100 and 200 meters sprint events and in the long jump event.

Johnson, a May 2013 graduate of Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, earned a degree in Accounting. She hopes to transition into a professional career in athletics, as it is a long held dream. Her immediate plans are to focus entirely on training.

Prior to going to the NCAA championships, during the SIAC championship which took place late April 2013, Johnson was the conference leader and champion in the long jump, high jump, and also NCAA qualifier in both events in the national championships. She was the recipient of the SIAC Field Athlete of the Year while competing at the 2013 SIAC championship in Atlanta, Georgia.

Johnson’s jump of 6.28 meters (20’7”) and an automatic qualifying mark placed her in the top 2 ranking in the NCAA Division II in the nation. Her high jump mark of 1.74 meters (5’8”) earned her a NCAA Div. II provisional qualifier. As an outcome, she earned a 2 nd place finish All American at the NCAA Div. ll in Pueblo, Colorado with a second best mark of 6.19 meters in the long jump event.

As an honor student, maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher from 2011 to 2013, she hopes one day to pursue a career in business. Her immediate goals are focused on competing in the professional world of track and field athletics as she plans to travel to Europe at the end of June to compete in various countries in hope of improving her marks and times in the sprint events. As the second oldest in a family of ten children, she is proud to be the first in her siblings to graduate from college.

Johnson’s travel fees will amount to a total of $4,500. She will compete in Belgium, France, and Italy starting June 22, 2013. To assist Johnson with travel costs, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at Paine College at 706-821-8233 or lcollins@paine.edu .

For more information on Paine College, please visit http://www.paine.edu , or contact Leah Suggs in the Office of Communications & Marketing at